Oil on paper, 30x21cm.
Happy new year!
This month, I thought I would explore what it means to have and what comprises my particular art practice. I hope to better define and to discover more insight into how I think and approach my work.
I started calling myself a painter/artist, in a way, to announce to the world that I was committing to a life of art practice. This decision was not taken lightly – not much different to marriage. To me, it was a proclamation of my commitment to create, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death do us part.
I have heard many would-be artists express a particular sentiment: that they did not or could not make the time for their artmaking, or that their art making was secondary to other priorities, usually expressed with a hint of guilt or shame. I too have expressed this sentiment in the past, but since making the firm commitment to being an artist, my priorities have changed: partly due to the commitment itself but also because at the same time I began to use the term ‘art practice’ in reference to my art making.
For me, ‘art practice’ indicates an ongoing, unresolved process, which opened up the way I thought about art. As a child, ‘practice’ was the antithesis of ‘fun’. I wanted to be dedicated and disciplined but repetition was boring. I still struggle with repetition but I recognise the value of these qualities.
In earlier years, I have tried to do a sketch a day, create routines to encourage habits, and various other techniques that are purported to be the habits of ‘successful people’. I came to realise that this would be a lifelong process for me. In September 2022, I spontaneously decided to enter the Strada Challenge to paint everyday for the month. I only manage nine paintings that month, due to a lack of forward planning. However, I thoroughly enjoyed doing the paintings and decided to try again in January 2023.
This particular painting was of note to me because I became very aware that I was editing possible subjects according to my perceived ability. I really wanted to paint the shiny surface but I didn’t think I could, so I kept teetering on the decision. When I finally settled on it, although a challenge, I was quite happy with the result. In some ways this changed my art practice. I’ve become more aware of when my anxieties can affect my work and I try to face up to the challenge.
Still Life: Making lunch, 2022 is available, as a fine art print, for sale through my website and can be viewed at Atelier do Tijolo.